Same love, new laws

November 22, 2013

Robin Peterson
Staff Writer

I am for marriage equality simply because it should not be anybody’s business what another person’s sexuality is.
The fear that people have that leads to laws restricting marriage equality is innately irrational and unfair. If this country is created for the people and by the people, then it should be exactly that.
I, for one, am tired of hearing about this debate and wish that this issue could be settled; laws should allow people to exercise their rights as people in a “free’ country so they may marry whomever they want.
The reasons for people not wanting same-sex couples to get married are completely idiotic and in some instances hateful. Such as the argument, “It’s against the bible in some way,” “It’s inhumane,” “It goes against the so-called laws of nature,” and many more ridiculous excuses.
The main thing I do not understand about these debates is why this, in the end, is a problem. No matter how many times it becomes evident that same-sex couples just want to live their lives in a peaceful way; there is still much debate about this topic. As children, we learn to share and treat everyone equally, so why does that suddenly change once you leave the playground?
Now, to a child, of course, these issues seem to be less important and not as complex. It speaks to a fact that we as human beings are not born into the malicious cycle of hate that the opponents of same-sex marriage would like people to believe in.
And to be quite frank, I find it sickening to think that people have learned to hold so much hatred and disdain in their hearts. This should not be allowed to go on.
But, in addition there is one reason as to why I support same-sex marriage, there really is one that takes the cake from the rest. Sexuality is personal, relationships are private, and either way it is not the business of outsiders or the government to become involved in someone else’s marriage.
This should not even be a debate—just like sexuality within a relationship: it does not concern anyone but the two people getting married. No one is destroying the “fabric of American family,” as some people would like to put it.
The amount of hatred that is given to this topic is absolutely ridiculous. I know this sounds very cliché, but I still believe it is true that we should all be able to put aside the things that make us different and embrace the things that make us the same.
This not only can be applied to marriage equality, but other issues that we, as a country, still have problems with, such as race and religion.
Underneath it all, we are all humans and we should all have the same rights and privileges that everyone else does—the right to be who we are, to love who we want, and to not feel guilty or to be oppressed for these things.